Cane piler



s. A. THORNTON Feb. 24, 1959 CANE FILER 4 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed June 9, 1954 Feb. 24, 1959 s THORNTON 2,874,854

CANE FILER Filed June 9 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J3 a INVENTOR.

fia/maef Feb. 24, 1959 v s, THORNTON 2,874,854

CANE FILER I Filed Juno 9, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR.

f v Smmeflf BYM S. A. THORNTON Feb. 24, 1959 CANE FILER Filed June 9; 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. fime/QM Iii M Z CANE PILER Samuel A. Thornton, Jeanerette, La., asslgnor to Samuel A. Thornton, Jr.,Alexandrla, La.

Application June 9, 1954, Serial No. 435,440 8 Claims. (Cl. 214-9).

The present invention relates to a cane piler, and more particularly, to a machine for use in cane fields which lifts and rolls cut cane into a pile and accommodates loading of the piled cane into a truck or the like for removal thereof from the field.

It is common practice today in the cane fields to pile cut cane by hand or by some form of cane piler, either mule drawn or mechanically powered, and to employ mechanical cane loaders comprising, for instance, a grapple and some type of power hoisting and positioning means therefor to load the piled cane into waiting trucks or the like for removal from the fields. At present, there are two types of mechanical cane pilers in use, one of which pushes cane into a pile as a bulldozer would .push earth into a pile, and the other of which employs endless sprocket'chains having protruding lugs which engage the cane. The bulldozer type of cane piler, in exerting a straight forward pushing action on the a cane, pushes and piles large quantities of cane trash, dirt and/ or mud into and with the pile of cane, which is highly objectional. When the field is wet or muddy, the wet, muddy cane trash and large quantities of mud piled with the cane are picked up with thecane and transported to the mill, which is afurther objection to the bulldozer type piler. The endless chain type of piler suffers substantially the same disadvantages, so that neither type of piler heretofore availablehas been fully satisfactory..

In distinction to the foregoing, I have conceived that a cane piler which provided means for lifting cutcane into a pile, rather than pushing it into a pile, would not dig into the ground and would not pick up cane trash, dirt and mud with the cane, thus obviating the disadvantages of known cane pilers. a j

It is an object of the present invention, first, to provide animprovedjcane piler affording the novel func- 'tions of lifting and rolling out cane into a pile.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cane piler comprising a vehicle carrying a plurality of generally rectilinear, parallely disposed, kicker bars positioned to engage, cutcane on motion of the machine toward the cane, wherein the kicker bars are effective to lift and roll the cut the ground. t

It is still another object of the invention to provide a canepiler comprising a vehicle carrying a plurality of reciprocating kicker bars positioned to engage cut cane cane into a pile without digginginto on motion of the vehicle toward the cane, wherein the leading edges of the bars are notched, and wherein the bars engage the cane only on upward movement thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mecha- Still another object ofthe invention is to provide a cane piler mechanism including a plurality of substantially vertically disposed kicker bars wherein the bars are 2,874,854 Patented Feb. 24,

According to the present invention, I provide a cane piling machine comprising a vehicle carrying a plurality of substantially vertically disposed, rectilinear kicker bars positioned to engage cut cane on motion of the machine toward the cane. The bars are mounted for a curvilinear, generally vertical, reciprocating movement and have the leading edges thereof notched, said notched edges engaging the cut cane as the machine moves forward toward it. A rotating drive shaft is provided with a plurality of throws, half of which are set at degrees with respect to the other half, and the throws are connected, respectively, with the respective kicker bars for actuation of the same. An endless flexible connector comprising a belt or chain extends between the drive shaft and a power source. Alternatively, power may be derived from the traction means or a power take-off shaft of the vehicle. The drive or crank shaft is thus rotated and the throws of the drive shaft reciprocate the kicker bars up and down while at the same time move them toward and away from the cane, as the machine approaches the cane. notched kicker bars do not dig into the ground andengage only the cane alternately in groups and only on present invention provides substantial advantages over prior practices. For example, the present invention provides acane piler which piles cut cane with a rolling lifting motion, rather than by just pushing it across the ground, without accumulating dirt and trash with the cane.

In'additionto'tl'ie foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cane piler which is economical of manufacture and convenient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the preferred use thereof.

Now, in orderto acquaint those skilled in the art with the present invention and with the manner of making and using the same, I shall describe, in connection with the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment Figure 3 is a side elevational view similar to thatof Figure 1, only on a larger scale showing more particularly the elements comprising my. improved cane piler mechanism;

some parts thereof being omitted for clarity of illustration, showing the kicker bars in a different position to better illustrate the piler drive shaft crank arms;

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the invention, similar to that of Figure 4, but on a smaller scale, and

'Figure dis a side elevational view similar to that of Figure 1, but on a larger scale, illustrating a cane. loading apparatus in inclined position for cooperation with the piler mechanism, and indicating several of the other positions,,(in dotted lines) which the various elements of the. apparatus may assume with respect to each other.

Referring now tothe drawings, and more particularly Thearrangement is such that the view of the cane piler and loader Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the invention,

embodiment comprises aconventional tractor 1 6, or any;

th r suitable vehicle, which; carries at one end thereof the fpilin g'f apparatus 18 and the loading apparatusj 20, tractor: asisindicated at 16 usually'comprises a vehicle'haviifgf a iront portion 22in which is carriedthe fi wl s fi wh sh are ua d d. tractio wli eels since the power from the motor'is ordinarily tra mitted'throughthem, andfront steering wheels 26. tractorisprovided with a conventional steering-wheel Z S'a'ndsupportingbodyframe 30 ofany suitable size and form, and the cane piling and loading apparatus may; be rrioun ted at the rearthereot. Thedrivers seat and other conventional equipmen t usua lly accompanying; a tractor ofthisi typ e are'notshownas they form no part of this inventionil, .Track t ype vehicles, trucks and the like may also bernployed if desired;

Se a, l

red to the rear of the tractor 16 for operation over and. miahollow 13, inthe field illustrated, are a plurality of 'no't c lied,lrectilinear, substantially vertical members 32 whichcornprise the kicker bars of my piler apparatus 18.

Referring rriore particularly' to Figures 3, 4 and 5, it will be seen" tha 't'ja. rigidtransverse supporting beam '34 ci cured inany suitable .manner-to the body 30 of the tractor andexteiid g rearwardly therefrom substantially over the.

wl'ieels'z tj are substantially horizontal supporting'bars 66,

with-thedefthand bar l lo carrying a, horizontally disposed rod'38' atthe end thereof Piyotally mounted on the ;rod, 38fare' aniiniber' ofshort linksfill (four in the illustrated embodiment) to the ends of'which are pivoted the upper ends of the kicker bars-3L An elongate channel beam 42 istniountedjtransverselyof the tractor in any; suitable manner, for-instance, bythe beam 44 extending rearwardly of the tractortsee Figure 2)- and mounted in the bearings 4'6 cafiedby the beam 44 is a drive shaft 48. Other siippo'rjti g. members for rigidly maintainingthe beam 42 in" position, such as rigid members 55 depending from bars 36 and the L -shaped' member 37 securedbetweeiilthe left lhand side of the beam 34, the axle of whls"24,l' and the left hand end of heam.42., The sup.- po'r of beaml lhowever, is a problem'which can be readily solve d by those' skilled in the art, and the supporting elements indicated are shown for illustrativeipur- P se s e x h tt ft e il t ed mb d m cdmistissafi elongajt etrectilinear member 51 having four throws comprising four crank .pins 50 and six crank arms 52 formedtherein. Therectilinear member, thejcr ank" pins, and crank arms are preferably formcd ina single unit gh the respective elements may be separately for "ed rid laterunited if so desired; As shown inFigure 4, iiihe illustrated embodiment two'of the throws are;

disposed on either side of the left hand traction wheel 24 andth""outeitwo" ofthe fourthrows (with respect to sai'd' 'w 7 v y I Y The kicker bai's 'sz' one was connection {abet/e fue scribed are adapted be actuatedupon rotation of craiilosliaft is Rotationmayibe imparted to the shaft m al ,10 g e al y i d s li S l j degrtveeis W hd aws? 1 inner 'twb tlirowsl' Thel we'rends of'kicker'bar's 32 are The outside surface of the flexible-chain'56 engages teeth of a toothed wheelor'spro'cket' 58'fixedto the wheel 24 and idler pulleys fifl held in position by a suitable support 62 "se'cilr'e'dtoj for instancerbe a'm' 34, 'hold'the outside surface of the flexible chain against the toothed wheel or sprocket 58.

While the illustrated embodiment shows my piler apparatus mounted only on the left side of the vehicle, I comprehend that a similar apparatus couldalsorbe carried on the rightside orv onboth'sides; that additional kicker bars could- -be;provided'on either side; andthat the kicker bars could be .relocated, with theprovision of suitable drive shaft means to actuate the added kicker bars. 1 Thus, another group of kicker bars132 could be suspended from the righthand support bar: 36 inzthe same manner-lasde scribed in connectionwith the' left hand bar 36; if so' desired. Moreover, i the bars 32 could be mounted at other, positions on the rear of the vehicle and any number of'bars could beemployed, dependingon the conditions' under which the piler is to operate. I also"con'ipreh end that other typeshof driv'e may beempl'oyed-"to actuate thedrive shaft '48, includingpower take-offs from various portions of the'vehicle ora separatepower unit; and'that" eccentric connections may beeinployed betweenthe'ki'cker' bars" and the drive shaft."v I :further comprehend that the piler apparatns may be mounted 'onthe front of a vehicle, if so desired, with suitableimodifications"being? made'to the vehicle structure tosuppbrt the" piler ap paratus and actuate the mechanism drive shaft.

In use, the cane piler. apparatus illustrated and above 1 described, is operated, in thefield illustrated,'by backing the tractor downjthe mounds"14,' with the wheels ofthe tractor being-positioned on each side' of' a' mound" (in hollows 1 ),1'aS'Sh0wn in Figures 4' and 5.. The drive shaijt 48 is actuated-Eby the movement of the 'traction' means or power take-ofi to which it is connected, and" rotatesyinjadirection opposite tothe" direction of'rotation of the tractionmeansz Thus," inthe embodiment showrrin, Figure; 3, the wheels24 would be rotating or turning in a clockwise, directionas the vehicle moves toward the-cutjca'ne 12,,and the drive' sha'ft *48iwould be rotating in a counter-clockwisedirection. As the drive shaft rotates, the kickerbars are provided with a curvilinear substantially vertical, reciprocating?movement, 1111 which the lower-ends thereof move. upwardly as theyare brought forward, andrnovei downwardly as they move rearwardlyr-and:follow apath similar to that shown by the dotted; line indicated.at-64"in'-Figure3: Thus; as the vehicle tislmoved toward the cane"and the notched leadingied gesofion pair of' th'e' kicker barscont'ac ts' the cutfcane,'tl1e"pairof bars "lifts the cane as it is movedt forwardly (with respect to the direction of movementof the piler) and t hen"-nioyes away -'fromthe Z cane, "at which; time the seco'n'd pair o'f"ba'r's'"'contacts thdcaitii and lifts'itupwardlyj theiresulti'is' 'thatj the ne is lift d and rolled into a pile asth'e veliicle moves along, v

Oncethe 'caneis piledby the "cane piling meohanisni,

it becomes" necessar n; the like,"and afcandoa in t e'form ofa hoist grab, is no'r'inally provided'oni'the' "tractor '16 toffacilitafe, echanism ofjthepresnt the transfe ytypfe of loader, as desired;

and the cane piler facilitatesfth rrianipulationfof the t, i 1 W. ,x 5 and 6,I have shown a cane loader 20 that I prefer.

transfer'tlie" cahe to a "truck oi awingsi, especially fig ures Turning now to the loading apparatus shown more particularly in Figures 5 and 6, an upright mast 70 is secured on beam 34 preferably above the center of the left handtraction wheel 24. Themast 70 is mounted on the beam 34 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis passing through its centerand through the center of the wheel 24. The mast has an outwardly extending substantially horizontal arm 72 and secured between arm 72 and the beam 34 is a hydraulic cylinder and piston means 74. It will be apparent that as piston rod 76 moves inwardly and outwardly of the cylinder 78, the mast 70 will pivot about its mounting. The arm 72 may assume a suitable configuration so that with the rod 76. pivotally secured to the end thereof, as at 80, the mast may be pivoted through at least an angle of 180 degrees. Two supporting arms 75, connected to sleeve 77 in which the upper end of mast 70 is adapted to oscillate, maintain mast 70 in upright position.

Secured to the lower .end of the mast 70 at 81 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis is a telescoping boom 82 which may comprise two or more telescoping elements 83 and 85, and a rigid arm or bar 84 extends between the upper end of the mast 70 and the outwardly projecting end of the boom. The rigid arm or bar 84 is pivotally connected to both of these members at 86 and 88, respectively. The upper end of the boom includes a rigid arm 90 secured to the boom at an angle, and pivoted thereto, intermediate of its ends, is the depending arm 92. A pair of opposed jaws 94 and 96, comprising grapple 98, are pivoted at the. lowermost end of the arm 92 and the jaws are adapted to be opened and closed by a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston means 100 and 102 pivotally securedto the cross bar 104 rigidly mounted on the depending arm'92. As shown. in Figure 2, the jaws 94 and 96 each comprise a pair of rigid members 106, 108, and 110, 112, respectively, which are secured together by the rigid bars 114' and 116, respectively. The rectilinear ends of the members 106 and 108 may be joined by a shaft 118, which is pivotally carried at 120 (see Figures 5 and 6) in the lowermost end of the depending arm 92. The rectilinear ends of the members 110 and 112 may be pivotally mounted on the shaft 118, so that the jaw 96 pivots with respect to jaw 94, and both jaws pivot with respectto arm 92, as will be 'appreciated by those skilled in the art. Secured between the upwardly extending end of the depending arm 92 and the upper end of the boom is a hydraulic cylinder and may also be moved toward and away from the boom by operation of the hydraulic means 122 to pivot depending arm 92 about its pivotal connection to the boom.

As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 10, as it progresses along the mounds 14, brings the kicker bars 32 into en: gagement with the cane 12 that is disposed across the mounds 14. The kicker bars 32 lift and roll the cut cane into a pile, and when the pile is deemed by the vehicle operator to be large enough for load, the boom 82 and the hydraulic means 122 are operated to position the grapple for the loading'operation'.

, Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 6, the loading apparatus is positioned for the loading operation by moving the boom 82 so that it is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tractor (though not necessarily parallel to the ground), and therefore, the jaws 94 and 96 are generally perpendicular ,with respect to the cane being piled. The hydraulic means 122 is also operated to swing the depending arm 92toward the boom to dispose the arm 92 and the grapple jaws at a low angle of inclination to the ground, with the jaws 94 and 96 being spread to the wide open position through. operation of the hydraulic means 100 and 102. The boom is then moved to a substantially horizontal positionto move the. grapple into the pile of cane. Due to the inclination of the grapple, the jaws thereof do not engage or .(lig into the ground and will not pick up dirt and cane trash with the piled cane. Also, due to thefull control of the grapple afforded by the operating and supporting mechanisms, the grapple does not engage the piling mechanism or the ground. As the grapple is lowered into the piled cane, the jaw94 rnoves into the area between mounds 14 to graspand engage a substantial portion of the pile. 'When' a sufficient portion of the pile is'disposed within the jaws of the grapple,.for example to fill the grapple, the vehicle operator closes the jaws 94 and 96'thereof by operation of the hydraulic means 100 and 102, andputs into operation the hydraulic means 78 to pivot the mast to the desired side of the vehicle on which cane is being loaded to trucks or carts, as well as admitting hydraulic pressure to the boom 82 to raise ing apparatus 68. then may be operated by the vehicle operator to place the load of cane within the body of the truck or the like being loaded, as by lowering the boom piston means 122 which is operable to pivot the depending arm 92, and the grapple 98 carried thereby, toward and away from the boom 82. The cylinder and piston means 122 is pivoted at 124 and 126 to allow. for relative movement between the depending arm 92 and the boom 82, when the means 122 is operated. As shown in Figure 6, the hydraulic conduits 99 .leading to the hydraulic means 100, 102, and 122 are fixed to rigid arm or bar 84 and are directed toward the vehicle proper, and together with the conduit (not shown) from hydraulic means 78 and1the conduit 101 leading to the boom 82, I they may lead to a source offluid under pressure provided with the necessary operating valves disposed within reach of the vehicle operator.

In use, swinging movement of the loading apparatus is obtained by operating the hydraulic cylinder and piston means 74 to swing mast about its mounting. The t lower pivotal. mounting adjacent the base of'mast 70.

The grapple is lowered by releasing the hydraulicpressure in the boom, and as the elements of the boom telescope with respect to each other, the boom moves downwardly about said pivotal mounting. The grapple 98 and releasing jaws 94 and 96. It should be noted, however, that the depending arm 92 may be pivoted inwardly or outwardly of the boom or the mast 70 pivoted about its mounting to aid the operator to place the load of cane in a desired position in the truck, without having as the grapple in grasping the pile of cane is at all times in front of the kicker bars (with respect to the motion of the piler toward thecane) and any cane not picked up,

by the grapple is lifted androlled in the direction of the cane yet to be piled. The tilting or inclining of depending bar 92 with respect to the boom and the kicker bars allows the grapple to grasp a large portion. of cane piled by the kicker bars without the jaws of the grapple digging'into the. ground or entering into or between the elements of the piler apparatus. Moreover, the longitudinal axis of the bar 92 and the boom 82 always remains in the same vertical plane, and the grapple, by nature of its mounting, does not swing or oscillate. about give the vehicle operator complete control over the motion of the grapple, something which has heretofore been lacking in cane loaders of prior practices.

While the mast 70 is shown and described as being mounted directly over thecenter of the left hand wheel 24, it may be positioned somewhat away from its illust at QIZPQ I PIQYldQd. b the fi t sme t qs 9f e le iS ,mqwite, a s w I t $Qulihm u We' t rightjhand whejelini the embodiment shqwu, if so desired, but in'an'ycas 'the'iloading appa r a u shouldbe so posic e T r di gope e'w he k dwrba s 3.

A sd f i l y i at Qt QR-WWhan ms-Wil deem to those skilled injth e: art to afford theparticular capabilities oftfull control and inclination of the grapple inur'mannr ldes'cribed', whichl capabilities are the primary purpose cruise- 1 loading means. suitable coiinterbalancingmeans, not shown) may be employed, v

if so des'ir d; toavoid tilt1ngofithefveliicletas the loaded beam tojthejsidei thereof.

t anaries"i u ae n: yeiat 't e inventionis not'to liiriitedthbietdeircept in so far as the"ap'pehdedclaims'ar 1 limited, M a H thear t who have dlsclo iire perm nent will be able to] ma e' modifications and I variations therein without departing from the scope" of the invention.

I claim; a

e" piling i a vehicle inudi fi 'mea war s ajr ir l r 9f kicker a 's positioned to'engagetlcutcane on motion of the machlne coir ected to said frame .ni eans' Llink means ,sup- 7 k s e fbis. n eater v rt l ,dis i idn ear, generally vertical recip rotatably supported Ion 't machine and in cluding ecce ni i w i ea h 1 .%i fl;b a ediq i a P t n n mediate its ends journaled on an eccentric throw ofsaid crank shaft means to' b e move d' a, curvilinear generally a ip e i ns tfi reii e 't uiwnwt a of, Said crankshaft means, said kicker bars eachengaging the cane only upon upward forward movement thereof to liftandroll'the" caneintofa pile and being retracted from the'i cane upon" the downward" rearward movement thereof! 1 3". canefpiling :rnachine comprisingga vehicle includ ing"framefiI leans carrying a' plurality of kickerbars position'e'dto' engage cut' a efon the motion of Itlielmachine 7 toward thefcane, link m'ans pivotally connected to the upper ends 'of eaeli'of' saidkicker bars and pivotally' connected to saidffrarne'meansysaid link means supportingilsiidkikr bars "generally vertical disposition and acpemni'oaarin "warmest generally vertical reciprocati i fn f iis s a s; fi nfl' ran s aft means rotatably'support ed on theimachine and including cirfi i' e i a ki an' r st mws h of said.

barsincludir ga portion intermediate its ends journaled on"'anleccentric throw of said crank shaft. means to be moved in afcurviliriear generally vertical reciprocating; movement upon rotation of said crank shaft means, said k ba s gash sa as! hets a p y u n" upward forward movement jthereof to lift and roll the came into a pile and beingretracted fromthej cane upon the downwar'drearward movement thereof.

'ncefthoseskilled in t k l= 1 be han .a ua ingz. nieans ope'r'ativelyconn ted to said kicker bar-s in spaced t n t in: r 1 t e 55A" cane. piling machine, comprisingai frame unit; carryinga plurality of upright kicker bars to engage cut cane upon motion of the frame unit toward the cane, said bars being provided with cane engaging means on the forward vertical edges thereof, means guidably mounting the kicker bars adjacent the upper ends thereof, said means mounting said bars for forward, .upward, rearward and downward movement of at'leastthe lower ends thereof and V accommodating ,a maximum horizontal movement at the lower ends of the bars so that cut cane on the ground is kickedcupwardly bytthe action'of the bars during their upward and forward movements.

5. A cane piling machine comprising a frame unit' carrying a plurality ,of. upright kicker bars foren'gage ment with cut cane upon motion of the frame unit toward the cane, means guidably mounting the kicker bars adjacent the upper ends thereof said means mounting" said bars for forward and upward movement of at least theilower ends thereof forbringingthe lower'ends of' said bars into engagement withncut, cane lying on the ground and enabling themto kick. the said cane upward lyand cause the, cane to be piled by virtue of the action of'the bars and the forward motion of theunit', said? means; also mounting the bars for subsequent rearward and downward movement to retract 'the barsfrom the cane preparatory. to subsequent upward and forward contact ,with cut cane, and means'adjacent but spaced from the lower ends of said bars for elfecting such movement of said bars. A

6..A cane piling machine; comprising a frame unit carryinga plurality of, uprightkicker'ibars' to engage cut came upon motionfofthe frame unit toward the' cane, means guidably mounting the kicker bars jadj'a'c'entthe" v, upper. ends thereof, said means accommodating forward upwardand then rearward downward movement'of at least the lower; ends of said bars andlacc'ornmodating" substantial horizontal movement of the bars 'at' the lower ends, thereof, and'drive means 'op'eratively connected to said bars in spaced relation to the lower'ends'thereof to impart a fast forward-upward movement to the lower ends of said bars .whereby said bars kick out cane lying on the, ground upwardly into a pile during their forwardupward movement, said drive means; subsequently moving said bars'rearwardly anddownwardly and retracting the a same from the 'piled cane. V

7. A cane piling machine comprising a frame unit carrying'a plurality of upright kicker bars for engagement with cut cane upon motion "of the'fram'e unit toward the cane,.said bars including cane engaging projections along the forward vertical edges thereof, meansguidably mounting'the kicker bars adjacent the ,upper ends thereof, said meansacc'ommodating forward and upward movement of at least the lower. ends ofsaid bars, and drive means operatively connected tosaidbar's inspaced relation to the lower ends thereof for m'ovin'gthe' lower ends 'of said bars in a' direction predominantly forward and also upward for causing said'bars to kick'the cut cane upwardly into' a pile and to remove trash'from the cane,

said mounting means and said drive means respectivelymounting and driving the bars for subsequent rearward and downward movement'toretract" the'bars from the piled cane and againdispose the same for upward and forward movement. 1

8.,A cane piling machine'comprising a frame unit carrying a plurality of upright kicker bars for engage ment with cut cane uponmotion of the frame toward the cane, means guidably mounting-said kicker bars adjacent the upper ends 'thereofgsaid means mounting I said bars for forward and'upward 'rnovem'entof at least the lower ends thereofand accommodating at the lower ends of 'said bars 'a forward movement substantially exceeding upward movement, said movement enabling said bars to kick cut cane lying on the ground upwardly into1a pile, said meansalso mounting the bars for subsequent rearward and downward movement to retract .disposed in spaced relation to the lower ends of said bars and operatively connected thereto for effecting such movement of at least the lower ends of said bars. 5

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,307,009 Joy June 17, 1919 1 10 Terso Aug. 20, 1929 Barras May 8, 1945 Deal Dec. 9, 1952 Glashaw May 19, 1953 Welden May 26, 1953 Stauffer Oct. 27, 1953 Boudreaux Apr. 6, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 12, 1938 

